Microsoft announced a number of new features for Bing Webmaster Tools including a new recommendations section, 16 months of data (up from six months) and a limited private preview of Copilot.
Recommendations
Bing Webmaster Tools is “evolving” its Top Insights section and renaming it to “Recommendations.” Microsoft said the new recommendations provide a “more comprehensive and powerful” toolset. It gives you “personalized and actionable insights that help you optimize your website for maximum visibility and performance.”
Benefits. Here are the benefits Microsoft explained to us for Recommendations:
Enhanced data granularity: Recommendations dive deeper into your website’s performance metrics, offering granular data that helps identify specific areas for improvement.
Actionable insights: The tool goes beyond basic analytics by providing clear, actionable steps tailored to your site’s unique needs. This empowers webmasters to implement changes that can drive significant traffic and engagement.
Real-time updates: In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, timely information is critical. The new feature offers real-time updates so you always have the latest data at your fingertips.
Comprehensive SEO recommendations: From keyword optimization to backlink strategies, Recommendations cover all aspects of SEO, providing thorough guidance to help you climb the search engine rankings.
What it looks like. Here is a screenshot of the new “Top Recommendations.”
Google Search Console recently began testing recommendations in Search Console, but it is not fully rolled out to all users.
Extended Search Performance data: 16 months
Microsoft also has extended the amount of data you get within the Search Performance reports within Bing Webmaster Tools. from six months to16 months of data. This matches the amount of data Google gave us for Search Console back in 2018.
According to Microsoft, this was done in response to feedback.
“Whether you’re trying to figure out a sudden traffic drop or planning your next big campaign, the extended data view helps you make confident, informed decisions. All Search Performance data filter options will be available for 16 months immediately, while crawling and indexing history will become accessible as the information is collected,” Microsoft added.
Benefits. Here are the benefits Microsoft sees by extending the data, but as you can imagine, having more data is great:
Comprehensive trend analysis: With 16 months of data, you can identify long-term trends and patterns that were previously hidden, allowing for more accurate forecasting and strategy development.
Seasonal insights: Understand how seasonal changes impact your traffic and adjust your marketing strategies accordingly to capitalize on peak periods.
Campaign effectiveness: Evaluate the success of past campaigns over a longer period helps you refine your tactics and improve future performance.
Enhanced reporting: Provide stakeholders with more detailed and comprehensive reports, showcasing the impact of your SEO efforts over an extended timeframe.
Improved resource allocation: Allocate resources more effectively by understanding which strategies and campaigns have the most significant long-term impact.
Competitive advantage: Gain a competitive edge by leveraging historical data to stay ahead of industry trends and make proactive adjustments to your SEO strategy.
What it looks like: Here is a screenshot that Microsoft provided.
Microsoft also pre-announced new Copilot features in Bing Webmaster Tools. Users can ask Copilot questions about data and information within Bing Webmaster Tools. This will be available as a “limited preview by invitation only,” Microsoft wrote.
Copilot in Bing Webmaster Tools promises to provide “instant, accurate and contextually relevant answers to [user] queries.” It is engineered to provide “streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and provide valuable insights,” Microsoft added.
The Copilot Bing Webmaster Tools features include:
Real-time question.
Answer chat.
Deep data insights.
What it looks like. Here are screenshots of what this will look like.
Why we care
The new recommendations, extended data and Copilot integration are all welcomed additions to Bing Webmaster Tools. While the new recommendations and extended search performance data are coming now, the preview of Copilot integration is an exciting upcoming feature.